AUGUST bank holiday weekend sees the Transport Museum at Wythall gearing up for a major classic bus running day.

As well as bus rides, visitors can ride on the miniature railway and enjoy browsing through the gift shop with many interesting transport books and memorabilia.

Last year saw the opening of the museum's new display hall. In the hall, visitors can now see how the developing bus industry influenced people's lives through the 20th century.

There is an introductory film, interactive exhibits and small exhibits such as ticket machines, uniforms and other memorabilia.

Pride of place, however, goes to the buses that carried many millions of Midlanders over the years and are now restored and maintained by volunteers.

The bank holiday will see many of the museum's buses in service, but the star of the show will be a West Bromwich Corporation bus, returning to passenger carrying service for the first time in nearly 30 years.

"As far as we know, there are no West Bromwich Corporation double-deckers on the road - until now!" says Malcolm Keeley, collections manager and a trustee of the museum, which is in Chapel Lane.

"West Brom's buses were seen widely across the West Midlands, running into neighbouring towns and cities on jointly-worked services. Arguably the best known-route was the 74, still running today, linking Birmingham through West Bromwich to Dudley. Many Brummies will have used our West Brom bus to get to Dudley Zoo."

The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive took over the buses of several local authorities in 1969, including West Bromwich. Thirty years ago, when the Transport Museum was still a derelict field, the WMPTE was saying goodbye to conductors and their old half-cab, open rear platform buses.

Among them was bus number 248, new in 1963. Like most West Bromwich buses, the chassis was built by Daimler in Coventry and its body by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham, a fine example of West Midlands craftsmanship.

The Transport Museum successfully purchased 248 from WMPTE. On collection, it became the very first bus to enter the new site at Wythall. Unfortunately it immediately sank up to its axles!

Volunteers quickly had to lay a firm path and hard standing so that 248 and other buses could use the site. Over the next 10 years number 248 was externally restored to West Bromwich's magnificent colours. The ambition, however, was to get 248 back on the road.

"We had a long queue of buses to restore, and a museum to develop and maintain," explained Malcolm. "A few years ago, we decided it was 248's turn. A lot of time was spent getting the interior just right so that 248 complied with the appropriate test to allow fare-paying passengers."

This was only half the battle because it was now nearly 30 years since 248 had been licensed for the road. Various mechanical and air-operated items in particular had become used to retirement.

At last, number 248 got its bus MoT earlier this month and it can now do what it does best - moving passengers.

The Transport Museum will be open from Saturday to Monday over the bank holiday weekend and classic bus and miniature steam train rides will be on offer to visitors on the Sunday and Monday. If you are elsewhere over the weekend, you still have the chance to ride a classic bus at 2pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays until August 30 as one of the large collection makes a demonstration run.